20 research outputs found
Analysis of Auditory Measures in Normal Hearing Young Male Adult Cigarette Smokers Using Multiple Variable Selection Methods with Predictive Validation Assessments
Studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for hearing loss; however, no information is available on auditory preclinical indicators in young chronic cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking involves exposure to many harmful chemicals including carbon monoxide (CO). In this study, the CO level in 16 young normal hearing male chronic smokers was measured with a CO monitor, and was used as the outcome measure. Subjects were administered a battery of audiological tests that included behavioral and electrophysiologic measures. The goal was to investigate which auditory test measures can be used as potential predictors of the outcome measure. Using ordinary least squares estimation procedures with best-subsets selection and bootstrapped stepwise variable selection procedures, an optimal predictive multiple linear regression model was selected. Results of this approach indicated that auditory brainstem response peak V amplitudes and distortion product otoacoustic emissions had the highest predictive value and accounted for most of the variability
Assessment of Styrene Oxide Neurotoxicity Using In Vitro
Styrene oxide (SO) (C(8)H(8)O), the major metabolite of styrene (C(6)H(5)CH=CH(2)), is widely used in industrial applications. Styrene and SO are neurotoxic and cause damaging effects on the auditory system. However, little is known about their concentration-dependent electrophysiological and morphological effects. We used spontaneously active auditory cortex networks (ACNs) growing on microelectrode arrays (MEA) to characterize neurotoxic effects of SO. Acute application of 0.1 to 3.0âmM SO showed concentration-dependent inhibition of spike activity with no noticeable morphological changes. The spike rate IC(50) (concentration inducing 50% inhibition) was 511 ± 60âÎŒM (n = 10). Subchronic (5âhr) single applications of 0.5âmM SO also showed 50% activity reduction with no overt changes in morphology. The results imply that electrophysiological toxicity precedes cytotoxicity. Five-hour exposures to 2âmM SO revealed neuronal death, irreversible activity loss, and pronounced glial swelling. Paradoxical âprotectionâ by 40âÎŒM bicuculline suggests binding of SO to GABA receptors
Prospects of new chickpea varieties in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is an important chickpea growing state in
southern India, with spectacular increase in chickpea area
from 120,000 ha in 1997/98 to 638,000 ha in 2007/08. The
chickpea revolution in Andhra Pradesh has improved the prospects
of many resource-poor, small land holding and rainfed
farmers of Andhra Pradesh. However, the growing season of
chickpea in Andhra Pradesh is warm and short (90-110 days),
and drought is the foremost factor responsible for significant
yield losses. Rainfall in major chickpea-growing regions is quite
uncertain and erratic, resulting in poor yields. The Regional Agricultural
Research Station of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural
University, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India is the lead centre
responsible for location-specific research in chickpea in Andhra
Pradesh. With support from ICRISAT and ICAR, the centre has
initiated crop improvement programmes during 2004 and has
released four promising chickpea varieties for commercial cultivation.
Three desi varieties viz., Nandyal Sanaga 1(NBeG 3),
Dheera (NBeG 47), and Nandyal Gram 49 (NBeG 49) released
for Andhra Pradesh and one large-seeded kabuli Nandyal Gram
119 (NBeG 119) released for the southern zone comprising
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are cutting across
chickpea growing regions of Andhra Pradesh. Nandyal Sanaga
1, released in 2012, is a bold-seeded desi variety tolerant to
drought and heat; Dheera released during 2015 is also a desi
variety and the first of its kind in India, suitable for mechanical
harvesting. Nandyal Gram 49 released during 2016 is a highyielding
desi variety with attractive seeds; whereas Nandyal
Gram 119 is early bold-seeded kabuli variety released during
2015. These varieties have clearly demonstrated their advantage
(10%-15 % increase over popular varieties of the tract)
in farmersâ holdings in large-scale demonstrations and are being
preferred by farmers of not only Andhra Pradesh, but also
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharastra. Efforts are underway
to promote large-scale adoption of these varieties to
maximize long term productivity of chickpeas in rainfed vertisols
d-Methionine protects against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in cortical networks
Article discussing D-Methionine protecting against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in cortical networks
Antioxidants l-carnitine and d-methionine modulate neuronal activity through GABAergic inhibition
Article on antioxidants L-carnitine and D-methionine modulate neuronal activity through GABAergic inhibition
AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study
: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNetÂź convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNetÂź model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery
Assessment of Safe Listening Intentional Behavior Toward Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults
Recreational noise-induced hearing loss (RNIHL) is a highly preventable disorder that is commonly seen in teenagers and young adults. Despite the documented negative effects of RNIHL, it is still challenging to persuade people to adopt safe listening behaviors. More research is needed to understand the underlying factors guiding listeners’ intentions to engage in safe listening habits. We used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify attitudes, social norms, and behavioral control in 92 young adults toward two intentional behaviors related to safe listening habits while listening to their personal listening devices: (1) lowering the intensity of loud music, and (2) shortening the listening duration of loud music. Using a Qualtrics survey, the major factors of the TPB model as they relate to the participants’ intention to engage in risk-controlling behavior were assessed. Behavioral intentions to turn the music down and listen for shorter durations were thought to be predicted by the TPB factors (attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control). Linear regression findings indicated that the overall TPB models were significant. Positive attitudes toward turning the music down and shortening the durations were significantly associated with intentions to engage in non-risky behavior, more so for the former behavior